New Springs = the way it should be!

[mendo]

I put the new Eibach springs on last week,

I removed the top bolt without removing the cowl by using an allen socket and a wrench.

I removed the bottom strut bolt and left the tie rod, the brake line and the tire pressure sensor hooked up.

I carefully held the strut down and out the fenderwell supported by some wood and compressed the spring and removed it.

replaced it with the new one and repeated it on the other side.

the rear was pretty easy, remove the shock bolts, pry the old spring out, BAM! be careful with this part!! replace with new springs.

the new springs lowered the car about an inch.

The new springs made the car ride like a much larger more solid car.
it doesn't rock when it shifts, it doesn't lean as much when I corner.
it is absolutely what I wanted it to ride like.

I waited a week to see if I had any second thoughts, and no, I still very much like it and will recommend it to anyone.

anyone in N. CA that wants to ride in it to see can hook up with me.

[smartHHO]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like Smart should do the same. Would lower the center of gravity some and if it makes it ride better, might be for the best. Thanks again.

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by mendo

I put the new Eibach springs on last week,

I removed the top bolt without removing the cowl by using an allen socket and a wrench.

I removed the bottom strut bolt and left the tie rod, the brake line and the tire pressure sensor hooked up.

I carefully held the strut down and out the fenderwell supported by some wood and compressed the spring and removed it.

replaced it with the new one and repeated it on the other side.

the rear was pretty easy, remove the shock bolts, pry the old spring out, BAM! be careful with this part!! replace with new springs.

the new springs lowered the car about an inch.

The new springs made the car ride like a much larger more solid car.
it doesn't rock when it shifts, it doesn't lean as much when I corner.
it is absolutely what I wanted it to ride like.

I waited a week to see if I had any second thoughts, and no, I still very much like it and will recommend it to anyone.

anyone in N. CA that wants to ride in it to see can hook up with me.

Got set of H&R springs today, will mount this week. $230.00 including shipping!! Thanks for the heads up on install!! Wiil take pix's of install.
p1nball

[SylenThunder]

I was working in the garage the other day and came across some cheap 3/4" suspension stiffeners. The kind that you just twist in in-between the spring coils. Was thinking of giving that a whirl to see if it reduced the rocking any. Want a better suspension, but with Michigan winters, I'm not too keen on lowering the car.

[GHammerly]

Originally Posted by SylenThunder

I was working in the garage the other day and came across some cheap 3/4" suspension stiffeners. The kind that you just twist in in-between the spring coils. Was thinking of giving that a whirl to see if it reduced the rocking any. Want a better suspension, but with Michigan winters, I'm not too keen on lowering the car.

NASCAR sping rubbers!

[VinceLA]

Eibach springs with wider front tires definitely improve the handling.

Btw, mendo mentioned that front 22mm (or was it 21mm) nut thing, here's my picture if it helps.

[mendo]

Actually I did not remove the cowl like your pic shows,

I put a 22mm wrench (it is 21mm but I didn't have that one and the 22 worked) on the nut and turned the shock shaft with an allen wrench on a ratchet. you gotta turn the shaft in the tightening direction to loosen the nut because you are holding the nut. it worked good and I didn't have to remove the top cowl.

[rwjrn]

I like the idea of less rocking and less lean in the corners, but am concerned about even worse response to potholes. How do the new springs handle the bumps?

[mendo]

Originally Posted by rwjrn

I like the idea of less rocking and less lean in the corners, but am concerned about even worse response to potholes. How do the new springs handle the bumps?

There are a couple of spots on I-80 in the construction near Donner that the stock setup hits pretty hard.

The new springs hit the same spots about the same hard.

I didn't notice any additional hammering on any more spots.

I will be going through this area for the next few years as they fix all the bad spots and I am not worried about how it responds now after I put the springs in. I like the way the car feels now, it feels more solid.

It may be that the new springs are stiffer and the larger bumps don't compress them as quickly so it doesn't bottom out as fast.

[John_H]

The really odd bumps will bounce a little more. If you have serious back problems, the springs aren't for you. If you have no extreme orthopedic issues, those rare odd bumps are actually kinda fun!